History: The first e-cigarette was patented in 1963, but in 2003, Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik invented a more sophisticated version of a nicotine-based e-cig.

What it is: A tobacco-free smoking alternative, like nicotine patches or gum, that provides an experience similar to smoking. Because the "smoke" is water vapor, vaping can be done indoors.

How it works: Devices come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. The main tube that holds the battery and e-liquid, or "juice," usually is called a mod or pen. The battery heats the juice to create an inhalable mist.

Customers: In Southern California, you must be over 18 to purchase an e-cig product and to vape, but that is not the case in all states. Some consider it a smoking cessation product, but existing regulations do not allow for that to be officially advertised.

Price: Costs vary for starter kits but can be as low as $15. On average, juice and cartridge refills cost $10 to $20.

Source: casaa.org, esmoking101.com, totallywicked-eliquid.com

Tony Borriboonratana said he was a smoker for 10 years before he discovered electronic cigarettes.

He had tried everything, he said, from the patch to meditation, to try to quit.

E-cigarettes and vaporizer devices, or “vapes,” work like cigarettes, in that they contain nicotine but are missing the tobacco. They don't produce smoke, supposedly making them less harmful to users' bodies.

“It wasn't just something that helped me quit; it helped me replace cigarettes with a healthier alternative,” he said. “I could still have my cake and eat it, too.”

Now, Borriboonratana works for Vape Revolution in Cerritos, a shop that claims to be one of the first of its kind to open in Southern California and one of the biggest in the nation.

Despite the growing trend of e-cigarettes and vapes, which have different levels of nicotine – from 36 milligrams to none – many cities in the greater Long Beach area are cracking down on them, passing moratoriums and regulations.

Cerritos recently passed a moratorium on new e-cigarette and vape shops, and Lakewood is looking to pass regulations on where the items can be used.

The city of Long Beach doesn't have any moratoriums or concerns about the devices, City Manager Pat West said.

HEALTH WORRIES

Cities that are taking action say they are placing restrictions on the devices to allow more time to research the potential health risks and benefits of e-cigarettes, and the Food and Drug Administration hopes to release its findings about the potential risks soon.

While FDA results were expected by the end of October, FDA spokeswoman Jennifer Haliski said further research is needed to assess the potential public health benefits and risks of electronic cigarettes and other devices. E-cigarettes use nicotine cartridges, while vaporizers use water and flavored oil.

“The FDA intends to propose a regulation that would extend the agency's tobacco product authorities, which currently only apply to cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco to other categories of tobacco products that meet the statutory definition of tobacco product,” she said in an email.

Amber Lee, spokeswoman for Vape Revolution, feels it is unjust to group e-cigarettes and vapes with tobacco products, citing that users of such devices want to stay away from tobacco completely.

“It would upset a lot of people because people who vape would like to have the choice to not have to vape in the smoking area outside,” she explained. “They are Americans who also have the right to not breathe secondhand smoke.”

SCHOOLS TAKE ACTION

Local schools are also cracking down on the devices.

Cal State Long Beach Dean of Students Jeff Klaus said that students are only allowed to use the devices 20 feet away from a building's windows and doors, as with tobacco products.

Jeff Cornejo, principal at Millikan High School, said he sent a letter to parents at the beginning of the school year warning them about the devices and saying they will be confiscated if used on campus. He said the school has confiscated three devices since the beginning of the semester.

“It is a concern because they contain either nicotine or THC oil,” he explained, citing THC as a main ingredient in marijuana. “The difficulty is we can't tell what liquid is in a device, and because of that, we don't want them here on campus.”

Cornejo said he was also concerned about a vape shop that opened within blocks of the school.

“The issue is you're really not supposed to build a liquor store within 500 feet of a school campus,” he said. “It's not a liquor store, but it's the same concept. I believe this one is that close to our north parking lot.”

Gene Valbuena, who works at Vape Street in Artesia, said he thinks the trend of vapes and e-cigarettes is starting to “get out of control” because minors are starting to buy them. This reflects negatively on his business, he said.

“I've heard a lot of stories about schools confiscating the devices from students,” he said. “Now all the fingers are pointing toward us. It's hard to deal with all that stuff while trying to promote an alternative lifestyle.”

FINDING A BALANCE

Borriboonratana said he agreed that e-cigarettes and vapes shouldn't be used in certain places, like restaurants, classrooms and theaters, to be courteous to others who may not know what the devices are or who would have to explain them to their children.

He said he also agrees with the laws that the items only be available to people over the age of 18. Vape Revolution, like all smoke shops, is required to check IDs upon arrival, and Borriboonratana said he doesn't mind.

“It's not for kids,” he said. “We don't believe anyone under the age of 18 has the maturity to make a decision about in-taking nicotine, even if they choose zero milligrams.”

Likewise, David Joo, owner of Genki Vape in Lakewood, said he agrees with restrictions on where people can use the devices, but he hopes vaping won't be wiped out completely.

“As long as (the council gives) people who are vaping a place they can actually vape, then I do not mind,” he said, adding he would like people to continue to be able to vape inside his shop.

One of the reasons Lakewood is looking at restricting the devices is because of a fear that they could be used for illegal substances, said Community Development Director Sonia Southwell at an Oct. 8 City Council meeting.

Borriboonratana argued that while he's aware people can smoke other items with the devices, the drug issue should be totally separate.

“You can smoke pot out of these, but just like anything else, people buy Zig-Zags (rolling papers) to roll tobacco or marijuana,” he said. “You don't see them banning Zig-Zags or blunt wraps. People have the choice to break the law or not, regardless. At our shop, we don't sell any paraphernalia of any kind.”

Borriboonratana urged lawmakers to continue studying the devices and their benefits before making a quick decision, which would include lumping the products in with tobacco.

“Unless they have a firsthand account of how these devices helped one of their family members or friends, they're not really going to fully grasp how it's helping people,” he said. “Until there's proof that there's tobacco in our actual devices, then there's nothing more you can do.”

***

Temple City adopted an e-cigarette zoning/CUP ordinance that prohibits e-cigarette retailing within 1,000 feet of youth sensitive areas (e.g., parks and schools) among other conditions.

Pico Rivera adopted an e-cigarette ordinance that prohibits the use of e-cigarettes in school campuses, public buildings, child day care facilities, public parks, polling places and retail establishments selling e-cigarettes.

Lakewood is looking to possibly adopt zoning regulations on e-cigarettes.

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